Army chief questioned over 'shot list'

A document written by General Sir Mike Jackson, the head of the army, claimed that British soldiers shot at gunmen and bombers on Bloody Sunday, but failed to explain the death of 13 unarmed civilians, the Saville inquiry heard yesterday.

Gen Jackson was recalled to the inquiry after the discovery of a handwritten "shot list" he wrote on the night after the civil rights march in Derry on January 30 1972.

At the time, he was adjutant, with the rank of captain, of the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment.

In the course of terse exchanges yesterday, Michael Mansfield QC, counsel for some of the families of the victims, told the general that there was a "serious question mark" over the list of shootings he had compiled.

"The big question mark, general, in everybody's mind, and it may not have occurred to you, is that this list does not begin to explain any of the 13 civilian dead. Did you know that?"

Gen Jackson replied: "I am sorry, I simply do not understand the statement you are making. This list refers to people being hit and people being killed. It makes no attempt here to say civilian or whatever."

The whole point of the list was to justify publicly why people had been shot, said Mr Mansfield. That was why they were described as "nail bombers", "pistol firers", and "carrying rifles". He continued: "None of the 13 were carrying nail bombs, none of the 13 were carrying pistols, none of the 13 were carrying rifles, do you follow that?"

Gen Jackson replied: "I hear what you are telling me, but this is surely a matter for the tribunal".

The list was found by a young soldier five years ago in an unlocked cabinet at the headquarters of the army's 8th Brigade, the army group in Derry on Bloody Sunday. The soldier planned to send a copy to his brother, with whom he was engaged in debate about what happened on the day.

A copy of the document he made was found and the letter to his brother intercepted. The unidentified soldier was court-martialled, found guilty of prejudicing "good order and military discipline" and discharged.

Gen Jackson was recalled to the inquiry after a lawyer acting for a more senior officer at the time, Major Ted Loden, rejected a suggestion that the writing was that of his client. It was subsequently identified as Gen Jackson's.

The general said he could not explain discrepancies between his list and a typed document later sent to the Widgery tribunal, set up a few days days after Bloody Sunday, based on what soldiers who fired shots later told him. Maps and grid references with markings by soldiers have not survived, the inquiry heard.

The inquiry was also told that the information on Gen Jackson's list conflicted with claims later made to him by the paratroopers who fired shots.

He was also asked why no soldiers were named on his list. He said that the document was based on information given to him by Maj Loden. Though he said he could not explain why the names of the soldiers were not included in his list, he said the document was part of an "operational reporting process" which did not need the names.

Gen Jackson said that if his list was not comprehensive, or contained errors, he could not "provide an explanation. But I am sure that any errors or omissions are the result of oversight or some other proper and innocent reason."

He added: "If it is to be suggested that there was attempt by anyone to sanitise ... a true version of events, for whatever reason, I would emphatically reject such a suggestion."

He could say "with complete certainty" he was not involved "in any attempt to distort or cover up what had happened that day". Gen Jackson said he did not see anybody being shot on Bloody Sunday, and that he found the "whole incident very shocking".

Final submissions to the inquiry will be heard after Christmas, and Lord Saville is expected to start writing his report in late spring next year, with its publication likely before the end of that year.

Gun battle report

'Shot list' by Mike Jackson:

Following engagements took place during gun battle from approx 16.17 to 16.35 hours:

1 Nail bomber shot. Hit in thigh (back of Chamberlain St)

2 Petrol bomber shot. Apparently killed (car park)

3 Bomber (at top floor flats) shot. Apparently killed

4 Gunman with pistol behind barricade shot. Hit

5 Nail bomber (lighted fuse) (at car park) shot

6 Nail bomber at car park shot

7 Gunman with pistol fired 2 rounds at soldier armed only with baton gun at alleyway. Soldier fired one round and withdrew swiftly